algae in sump

[evan47]

my 4 month old tank has a lot of red coloured algae growing in the sump.
i also have chaeto in there but it refuses to grow despite it being lit 24/7 and having adequate nitrate and phosphate in the water column.
should i remove the red algae or leave it there?
i am puzzled as to why the chaeto will not grow ( but is still alive ) but the red algae is thriving.

 

[GimpyFin]

I'm guessing the red is maybe some cyano growing in the sump? You might not have a bright enough light or the ideal color spectrum for the chaeto to really grow much. IME, a 5000K daylight spectrum bulb works well. I just use one of those cheap-o small clamp on lights they sell in the electrical section of HD/Lowes with a 75W equilavalent (11-13W actual) 5000K LED floodlight bulb. Grows really well.

 

[LED Jack]

It is possible that the red algae is smothering the chaeto and out-competing it for nutrients but hard to say.